Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist back on top of his game

Veteran goalie struggled early in season, but confidence is high as he chase first Cup

May 20, 2014|By Chris Hine, Chicago Tribune reporter

NEW YORK — It might not show by the way he is playing now, but earlier this season Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist actually looked flawed in net.

Go back and watch the tape from October through December, when Lundqvist had a 2.7 goals-against average and you might begin to doubt Lundqvist could put together a performance like he did Monday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals — a 40-save masterpiece that propelled the Rangers to a 3-1 victory and 2-0 series lead.

And Lundqvist — who is chasing his first Stanley Cup — would be among those doubters. But what kept Lundqvist going was the vision of nights like Monday, of getting back to the level where he could win a playoff game in a hostile atmosphere. Lundqvist's performance was a reminder of what a top-tier goaltender can do in the playoffs and was salt in the wound for the Canadiens, who had to get through Game 2 with inexperienced Dustin Tokarski replacing the injured Carey Price.

"I told myself things were going so bad that things are going to turn around," Lundqvist said. "It was definitely a tough stretch. One of the toughest I've had in my career, but things started turning around for me in December."

Lundqvist posted a 2.08 goals-against average from January onward and 1.93 so far in the playoffs. Monday night might have been his biggest test yet. The Canadiens, fueled by a 7-2 embarrassment in Game 1 and a sense of determination to prevail without Price, came out blistering, pelting Lundqvist with 14 first-period shots.

By glove, by stick or by pad, Lundqvist turned all but one away. When the fury turned to tranquillity at the end of the first period, the Rangers were ahead 2-1. And Lundqvist could take a breath.

"It's about finding the perfect place mentally where you feel like, 'I can handle this,' " Lundqvist said. "You want to enjoy it at the same time. It's fun to be out there, even though it's chaos at times and extremely intense. There are moments throughout the game where you really enjoy it, and there are moments where you're not sure why you're out there because it's that intense."

Canadiens coach Michel Therrien became a believer after Game 2.

"You know what? The reason why we lost the game was Lundqvist," Therrien said. "Lundqvist was phenomenal. Phenomenal. He stole the game."

Though some skeptics still remained in the Canadiens dressing room.

"I think some of it is luck as well," defenseman P.K. Subban said. "I think he's getting a little bit lucky. But that's what you need in the playoffs. You have to be lucky to be good and good to be lucky. He's getting some bounces."

Subban said he was confident the Canadiens will break through, especially if they can put 40 shots on goal again. But the Canadiens' window to do that is closing, thanks to the Rangers and Lundqvist.

"When I sit down and collect my thoughts, my goal here is to leave it all out there …" Lundqvist said. "To reach my full potential and inspire teammates to reach that level and see how far it takes us."